Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Liu Supervisor, I would like to ask you a question: we and the Emperor Palace have always stayed out of each other’s way and have never offended the Emperor Palace. Why must you insist on absorbing our small sects into the Emperor Palace?”

Seeing Liu Wenzong’s expression, Xu Shitong, the Sect Leader of Hidden Blade Sect, suddenly felt his heart leap. As the Sect Leader, he was naturally not someone to be underestimated. These words clearly drew all the sect masters present onto the same boat.

Xu Shitong’s words were implying that if the Emperor Palace annexed the Hidden Blade Sect today, perhaps in the future it would incorporate all the family sects around Ye City into the Emperor Palace, thereby severing their legacy.

”Why does our Emperor Palace need to explain our actions to you?”

Listening to Xu Shitong’s words, Liu Wenzong blinked and responded with overwhelming authority before turning his gaze to a different spot, lightly calling, ”Jade Sword Sect Master, you tell him!”

”Jade Sword Sect Master? Daoist Jade Sword?!”

Suddenly hearing the title spoken by Liu Wenzong, many people were momentarily stunned, including Xu Shitong, who also turned his gaze over. Only then did he realize that the person Liu Wenzong was looking at was indeed his old rival, Daoist Jade Sword.

”Well then, I wondered why this old fellow Jade Sword would be so kind as to attend my Hidden Blade Sect’s wedding. Turns out he was waiting here all along!”

Realizing certain things, Xu Shitong was immensely furious. He had been suspicious of Daoist Jade Sword’s intentions today, and until this moment, the answer seemed about to emerge.

”Xu Shitong, Liu Supervisor wants to merge Hidden Blade Sect into the Emperor Palace. That’s a blessing for you, a great fortune for your Hidden Blade Sect. You better not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”

Being called by name by Liu Wenzong, Daoist Jade Sword naturally couldn’t remain seated. As he stood up, he first bowed to Liu Wenzong and then spoke with a slightly proud tone, causing many to nod quietly.

Since its establishment, the Emperor Palace has always been a highly peculiar presence in Ye City. Normally, no one dares provoke it lightly, and once the Emperor Palace issues a command, few dare disobey it, as it is a branch of the Emperor Canglong Palace.

But previously, the Emperor Palace, even when needing these sect families to do something, would generally be quite polite. Sometimes, it would even offer hefty rewards, which was also a way of winning people’s hearts.

The Sect Masters of these small families and small sects, secretly nodding, have always wanted to further their relationship with the Emperor Palace, but they have limited strength and capabilities, so striving to climb the Emperor Palace seems to be beyond their reach.

Therefore, they were envious of the Emperor Palace offering an olive branch to Hidden Blade Sect, secretly thinking that from now on, the status of Hidden Blade Sect might rise even further.

However, another segment of people showed concern on their faces, as their sect families felt a strong sense of belonging. Once absorbed into the Emperor Palace, it wouldn’t be as simple as previous cooperations; they would truly become private subordinates of the Emperor Palace.

”Old Dog Jade Sword, you have a spineless nature, disregarding the ancestors of Jade Sword Sect. Do you really think everyone is as treacherous as you?”

Listening to Daoist Jade Sword’s words, Xu Shitong was overcome with both new and old resentment, and the words he spoke didn’t leave Daoist Jade Sword any dignity. This was utterly tearing the face off him.

”Xu Shitong, don’t be ungrateful, Lord Supervisor kindly intends to resolve the feud between our two families. If you continue to be obstinate, today’s Hidden Blade Sect might be drenched in blood.”

Daoist Jade Sword was infuriated by Xu Shitong’s words, ready to explode in anger, but glimpsing Liu Wenzong’s fierce gaze from afar, he could only change his approach and continue to clarify the stakes.

”Indeed, Dragon Emperor has spoken: now our Human Clan is suppressed by Strange Spirits, precisely because there are too many internal sects and family factions fighting endlessly. With such internal wear, we cannot unite as one to face the external threats.”

Following Daoist Jade Sword’s introduction, Liu Wenzong finally echoed again, saying, ”Therefore, the Emperor Palace issued an order for the Emperor Palace divisions in all major cities to consolidate various forces to ensure greater chances of winning against future Strange Spirit ravages.”

Liu Wenzong spoke eloquently, and these words didn’t seem wrong, even containing some grand principles. Yet when thought through more carefully, they seemed full of loopholes.

It was obvious this was the Emperor Canglong Palace’s ambition to bring all the Human Clan forces across the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud under its banner, but it was spoken in such a lofty manner, their sinister intentions evident.

Nonetheless, even if the sect family leaders present at Hidden Blade Sect’s banquet could see through this, hearing it as a command from Emperor Canglong Palace left no one daring to voice any objection.

Of course, aside from Hidden Blade Sect, facing the issue directly, Xu Shitong suddenly felt a deep chill in his heart after hearing Liu Wenzong’s words, fearing that Hidden Blade Sect might truly face dire consequences today.

Although agreeing to Liu Wenzong’s demand might preserve the Hidden Blade Sect to some extent, it obviously wouldn’t live up to its name thereafter, and there’s a chance even the name might be completely erased.

”Xu Shitong, let me tell you, our Jade Sword Sect has already merged with the Emperor Palace, becoming Jade Sword Hall of Ye City Emperor Palace. If you don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll see you splattered in blood with no one left in your sect!”

At this moment, Daoist Jade Sword felt a superiority, being the first sect to affiliate with the Emperor Palace. He considered it an honor rather than disgrace, now clearly acting as Liu Wenzong’s vanguard.

”Xu Shitong, I give you ten breaths’ time. If you remain obstinate, not only will your life be in jeopardy, but no one in Hidden Blade Sect will be spared!”

It seemed Liu Wenzong’s patience was gradually wearing thin, and hearing his final two sentences, even the guests not involved felt their hearts nearly leaping out of their chests.

Although the Hidden Blade Sect is one of the two major sects in Ye City, it still falls short in front of the Emperor Palace, not to mention the Jade Sword Sect, whose overall strength is lower than the Hidden Blade Sect.

”Ten, nine, eight, seven,...”

As Liu Wenzong’s front-runner, Daoist Jade Sword naturally took the duty of calling out the numbers. Each number seemed to hit every disciple of the Hidden Blade Sect in the heart, turning their gazes to the Sect Leader’s face.

”If you want to live, all of you...”

Looking at the cultivators of the Hidden Blade Sect and the eyes of his beloved son, Xu Shitong couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. Just as he wanted to say something, he was directly interrupted by Liu Wenzong from the side.

”Xu Shitong, if you don’t agree today, there will be no surviving members of the Hidden Blade Sect!”

Perhaps Xu Shitong’s attitude enraged Liu Wenzong, for at this moment, the Supervisor of the Emperor Palace had blocked the last path of the Hidden Blade Sect.

It seems Liu Wenzong also wanted these cultivators of the Hidden Blade Sect to be disheartened by Xu Shitong, making them believe that their Sect Leader was causing their demise. Once Xu Shitong made that decision, his goal would be achieved.

”Ha ha, you all see it too, it’s the Emperor Palace not giving the Hidden Blade Sect a way out. Warriors, are you afraid?”

Xu Shitong was straightforward and bold; given that the last path was blocked, he no longer hesitated, and there was even a hint of laughter in his commanding voice.

”Sect Leader, we are not afraid!”

”What is the Emperor Palace? Fight them!”

”Even in death, we’ll bite a piece of flesh from these dogs!”

”Ah Si, bring me my big blade!”

”...”

After Xu Shitong’s call fell, a chorus of curses erupted throughout the banquet hall. When Liu Wenzong heard the phrase ”dogs,” his face undoubtedly turned extremely gloomy.

As the Supervisor of the Emperor Palace, no one has dared to show the slightest disrespect since Liu Wenzong came to Ye City, as those disrespectful have long become cold corpses.

Liu Wenzong’s scheme to alienate Xu Shitong from his disciples failed, instead achieving the opposite effect. The disciples of the Hidden Sword Sect all united against a common enemy.

And that last shout for the ”big blade” was issued by the Hidden Sword Sect’s top talent, Xu Shitong’s only beloved son, Xu Qingshan, on what should’ve been his joyful wedding day.

”A mere brat dares to be so arrogant!”

Liu Wenzong’s expression was as dark as water. When he saw someone indeed carrying a big blade towards Xu Qingshan, he snorted coldly and gently waved his right hand, releasing a vast surge of power.

”Qingshan, be careful!”

Sensing the violent power within Liu Wenzong’s aura, Xu Shitong couldn’t help but exclaim in shock. His shout was quite timely, causing Xu Qingshan, who had just taken the blade, to immediately be on high alert.

Bam!

Yet, just as everyone thought Liu Wenzong’s attack was aimed at Xu Qingshan, they realized in the next moment they were entirely mistaken.

A loud crash resounded, followed by a graceful red figure flying backward. A light gust lifted the red bridal veil from her head, revealing the other main character of the wedding, Xu Qingshan’s almost bride.

”Yu!”

Seeing the figure spewed a mouthful of blood while flying backward, Xu Qingshan felt as if his eyes were tearing apart. In his intense rage and distress, he almost spat blood himself.

Xu Qingshan’s wife was merely a maiden from a small family in Ye City, with unremarkable cultivation talent, having faced much opposition from her father before reluctantly agreeing.

It was clear how much Xu Qingshan adored this woman named Yu. But now, looking at her face so pale and bewildered, entirely unaware of what had happened, Xu Qingshan felt as if his heart was on the verge of collapsing.

At this moment, everyone was stunned by such a tragic scene, unable to speak, as a joyous event was instantly on the brink of turning into a funeral.